Murdock, James d. 1899

MURDOCK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/9/2005 at 16:09:34

The Newton (IA) Record Thursday, June 22, 1899
Another Indictment Against King Alcohol
A Young Man Torn to Fragments on the Railroad

Murdock, James

Last Monday morning about eleven o’clock the startling news was brought to Newton that the mutilated body of a man supposed to be that of James Murdock, had been found on the Rock Island Railroad track about midway between this city and Metz. Coroner Reynolds and a number of other immediately went to the place and were met by a most horrible and sickening sight. The mangled remains of a man, divest of all clothing, lay on the side of the track, the right arm and both legs torn from the body and the head and face crushed beyond recognition. Particles of flesh, bones and clothing were scattered along the tracks for a distance of fully a mile. The unfortunate man proved to be James Murdock, Jr.­ a young man about twenty-three years of age who made his home with his parents about three miles southwest of Newton, on the Monroe road.

The fragments of the body were gathered together and brought to Baum & McLaughlin’s undertaking establishment were they were carefully prepared for a neat casket to await interment.

The coroner accompanied by Messrs. A. Failor, Geo. Swearingen and Chas. B. Ritter, who began their inquiry into the case at Metz, Monday, afternoon. Unable to secure the testimony of Jimmie Hickey, an important witness, on account of “indisposition,” the jury adjourned to meet in Newton on Tuesday to conclude its deliberations.

The evidence brought out at the inquest that the deceased, in company with five other men, had spent much of the day Sunday at the river near Metz and that they had drunk about eight gallons of beer and some whiskey, have two gallons of the stuff, which they had divided up in bottles ­ furnishes a key to the whole terrible affair. In the evening Murdock when home with Jas. Hickey to spend the night. They drank heavily and about 2 o’clock a. m. Murdock started for home. Mrs. Hickey warned him to be careful about the cars, as his route lay across the tracks of the Rock Island Ry.; he replied that he was able to take care of himself, and that was the last seen of him alive. It was supposed that on reaching the railroad he was exhausted and fell asleep, to be crushed to death by No. 2 passenger train, due about that time.

The remains were laid to rest in Wild Cat (Palo Alto) Cemetery Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. After the interment funeral services were held in the U. P. Church near by, conducted by Rev. R. F. Chambers, - the music being rendered by Mrs. Carrier and Miss Robinson, a large number of sorrow-stricken friends being present.

James Murdock was popularly known as “Gaffne” by his associates, and was a genial, whole-souled young man, liked by all ­ a friend to everybody but himself. He was born in Lugas, Ayrshire, Scotland, 23 years ago. His parents, brothers and sisters are almost crushed with grief on account of his sad ending. May the horrible tragedy prove an effective object lesson to the young men of our city who are traveling the dark road that leads to ruin.

Originally submitted on Sun Sep 29 21:09:44 2002